This Sunday’s Guest Preacher

The Rev. Dr. Wanda Kidd will be our guest pastor for Sunday morning, December 31. She lives in Mars Hill, NC with her husband, Dan.  She has served in several churches as a youth and children’s minister in both Darlington, SC and Jackson County, NC.  She worked at Mars Hill College with the Service Learning program and at Western Carolina University as the Baptist campus minister.  She served with the CBF as the specialist for collegiate ministry and worked for the CBFNC as coordinator of collegiate engagement.

The Rev. Dr. Wanda Kidd is originally from Hillsborough, NC and attended school at WCU, earning a degree in home economics.  She attended Southeastern Theological Seminary at Wake Forest and earned a Masters of Divinity and Religious Education followed by a Doctorate of Ministry awarded by Drew University.  Please join us in welcoming her!  

"Let Heaven and Nature Sing" Was a Resounding Success!

Royal Ambassadors Needs Leader

We are still in need of a leader for Royal Ambassadors. Please be in prayer that someone will come forward to teach these wonderful boys.

Send Us Your Prayer List Updates

fbcsylvapray@gmail.com 

Add this email address to your contacts list on your devices so that our staff and Pastoral Care Team can learn of your prayer requests as quickly as possible. And yes, you may still contact the church office directly at 828-586-2095 to share your prayer concerns, as well.

Let Heaven and Nature Sing! TONIGHT

You are invited to a wonderful celebration of the true meaning of Christmas on TONIGHT, December 20, at 6;00 p.m., in the MFC. 1st Explorers and children of the church are working hard to prepare for an outstanding hour of skits, Scripture reading, and music. “Let Heaven and Nature Sing” will make you want to sing along with the enthusiastic voices of our children. Please come! Doors open at 5:45 p.m.

Christmas Eve Service

Begin your family’s Christmas celebration with the story of Christ’s birth! Join us on December 24th for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Come early at 5:00 PM to light a candle in the windows in memory of a loved one and to hear Christmas music before the service. Then, beginning at 5:30 PM, our family-friendly service will capture the wonder of Christmas with familiar carols, the retelling of the Christmas story, and the glow of candlelight. Afterward, gather your family in front of our beautifully decorated Christmas tree for a classic holiday photo. Don’t miss this opportunity to create lifelong memories with your entire family!

Hurray for Our Nursery Workers of the Week!

Thank you to Brooke Drum for stepping up and being willing to substitute
this past Sunday in the nursery.  We appreciate you!

The nursery worker for December 24 is Autumn Burnes.  We are so glad to have her home from
Appalachian State University for a few weeks!

There is still room on the schedule to serve “the least of these”
on Sunday mornings.  It is a blessing to see their smiles and enthusiasm as you spend
time with our infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. 
Please contact Cheryl Beck (cabeck@ncsu.edu) if you would like to help.

Trustees Update on the Sale of the Church’s 2005 E-450 24-Passenger Bus

As you may recall, the church membership voted to sell the bus at the November 15th Church Conference. However, the church Trustees have received information from the NCDOT that a  Commercial Drivers’ License is not required to operate the bus if nine seats are removed. The  bus is in great shape and been properly maintained over the years (thanks to Gary Frye). Since  the bus has more foreseeable value to the Church than the financial gains by selling the bus, the  Trustees' interest to sell has changed. The nine bus seats have already been removed and properly stored in case there is a future need to accommodate more passengers. In the meantime, the bus can serve as backup transportation to the smaller bus primarily used by 1st Explorer’s.

January Birthdays

Jeff  Joiner  (Jan. 4)

Ann Melton  (Jan. 5)

Gaye Buchanan  (Jan. 9)

John Dills  (Jan. 10)

Teresa Deitz Manring  (Jan. 11)

Rebecca Devoe  (Jan. 13)

Juanita Burrell  (Jan. 16)

Dorris Beck  (Jan. 18)

Jane Perry  (Jan. 21)

Charles Proctor  (Jan. 22)

Strider Drum  (Jan. 23)

Sparrow Messer  (Jan. 23)

Melanie Bryson  (Jan. 24)

Bob Holquist  (Jan. 25)

Cody Messer  (Jan. 31)

1st Explorers After-School Ministry Update